Restarting A Tank

[SkydiveSonic]

I'd like to change the inside of my big tank totally (see sig for whats in it). Is it even possible without probably killing all the fish? I'd like to get rid of the UGF, change the gravel for sand, and add a load of live plants instead of the plastic ones that are in there now. I don't have a tank big enough to put all the fish in either, although i have buckets that will house them for a while .... Any way i could do this? No big deal if i can't, but i'd like to change it.

 

[clareriley]

Yes you can do it, keep the water and change the insides quickly.. the fish will be ok for a little while then just keep an eye on the water as there might be spikes with the change,.

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. I would definitely say that you could do it. If you can put the fish in buckets while you empty the tank it would probably make it easier. If you saved as much of the old water as you can, then after the tank is emptied out you can put it all back in and that way they will have some water that they are used to and that should help minimize the stress. I would keep the fish in the buckets for as little time as possible though. Something i do when catching fish is i try to use the net to corral them into a glass jar so that i don't actually have to touch them with the net in hopes that that will reduce the stress on them. Once you get the tank re-arranged, you can add them back, just make sure to acclimatise them slowly. Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite readings daily in case you get spikes. You could probably do this while leaving the fish in the tank also. The best way to do this would be to do half at a time so that they would have some place to hide while you are working on the opposite side of the tank. If you leave them in try to make sure that the new water you add back in is the right temperature and of similar pH.

 

[trace1]

also will you have any kind of filter media that you can use ??? take it you getting a new filter if you changing the ug filter
if you can use some or all of the old filter media then that is even better, if not then have you thought of running your new filter in the tank for 2weeks to seed it then you can transfer the whole lot over that how i upgraded from my 28 gal tank to my 60 gal tank. i just didn't add extra fish for a good couple of weeks & the tank is perfect

 

[SkydiveSonic]

I'm using a fluval 3 filter at the mo which will stay in the tank after the change, the only filter that will go is the UGF. I've got a bottle of cycle here as well so that'll get used if i change the tank. How long does sand take to settle after it's been put in the tank and water added?

 

[trace1]

the sand should settle quick but only if you have rinsed it really well. just keep rinsing till it looks totally clear. it should be ok then changing the tank around like was said before thou just keep an eye on tests & keep a look out for spikes in the readings. if you get spikes then just do more water changes